Article 8. – Salvation.
We believe that, owing to universal death through sin, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless born again; and that no degree of improvement however great, no attainments in morality however high, no culture however attractive, no baptism or other ordinance however administered, can help the sinner to take even one step toward heaven. What is absolutely essential to salvation is a new nature imparted from above, a new life implanted by the Holy Spirit through the Word, and only those thus saved are sons of God. We believe that our redemption has been accomplished by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was made to be sin for us, dying in our place; and nothing can add in the very least degree to the value of His blood, or to the merit of His finished work.
We believe that salvation is received only through faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is a gift of God brought to man by grace, and is received by faith. All who so believe are regenerated and are sealed by the Holy Spirit and are therefore eternally secure in Christ. (Leviticus 17:11; Isaiah 64:6; Matthew 26:28; John 1:12; 3:5, 16, 18, 36; 5:24; Acts 16:31; Romans 5:5-9; 3:22-26; 4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13,22; 6:15; Ephesians 1:7; Titus 3:5; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:18-23; John 10:28-29; Romans 8:31-39; 1 John 5:10-13).
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The Old Testament prophet Jonah cries from the belly of the great fish, "Salvation belongs to the LORD!" (Jonah 2:9)
While that is not all we believe concerning salvation, it certainly serves as a useful summary. Human beings are desperately lost in our sinful condition. Our hearts are disinclined toward God. "None is righteous, non, not one; no one understands, no one seeks for God." (Romans 3:10a-11). This is the state into which each of us are born, and we all choose to continue in it by our choices to indulge in that which God calls sin. We thumb our noses at the Creator.
Who can save us from this plight? Who can deliver us from the belly of the great fish called our sinful self? None but God. Salvation belongs to the LORD. But he won't accept us the way we are. Our rebellion is odious to him, and he will judge that rebellion with his wrath. Are we without hope, then?
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5). God sent his Son to redeem those who were under the curse of breaking his law. How did he do this? By dying in our place and bearing in his own body the curse that our sins deserve (1 Peter 2:24). This is amazing love-but how do we come to receive its benefits? By faith in Jesus.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1). Which is to say, when we place our faith in Jesus' sacrifice for our sins, acknowledging that death and separation from God is what we deserve, and yet confident that he bore that penalty for us and trusting in his goodness and the complete nature of what he did for us on the cross, we move from being God's enemies to being those who are at peace with God. And further still, to being his children. To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)
And this is all a gift. Salvation belongs to the Lord!